Maintaining intimacy after prostate cancer treatment can be challenging, yet ulti­mately rewarding. Regardless of the type of treatment, most men experience some degree of erectile dysfunction. Many men worry about not being able to meet their partners’ sexual needs. Their part­ners may be distressed by the sexual changes, too, and couples are often at a loss about how to recover their sexual relationships.

Successful sexual recovery requires attention to the body, to emotions, and to the couple’s interactions. The first step is to make sure that both partners’ bodies are as sexually viable as possible. Penile rehabilitation is often recom­mended to men after prostate cancer treatment. Its goal is to maintain the health of penile tissues and maximize the possibility of erection recovery. Your urologist can help you develop a reha­bilitation regimen.

Many female partners of prostate cancer survivors are post-menopausal and experience vaginal dryness, which makes intercourse uncomfortable. They can consult their gynecologists about aids to promote the maintenance of vag­inal moisture and the elasticity of vaginal walls. Regular stimulation of sexually sensitive tissues, including masturbation, helps maintain sexual responsiveness. It brings blood flow into genital tissues. Blood flow underlies not only tissue health but also sexual pleasure.

While exploring options for aids to erections, such as vacuum pumps, penile injections, and penile supposito­ries, couples can begin to reconnect sexually without penetration. Talking about wanting to be sexual again is im­portant. A man’s partner often does not want to pressure him for fear that he will feel inadequate. Men with prostate can­cer may fear that their partners will be disappointed in a sexual interaction with­out penetration. But sexual changes after prostate cancer treatment should be discussed.

For prostate cancer survivors and their partners, the loss of erection can be emotionally significant. Loss of ejac­ulate is also something that both partners may have strong feelings about. Re­assuring each other that affection and alternative sexual touch is a good way to begin the journey to sexual recovery can be freeing and may lead to bonding over a shared goal of renewed physical intimacy.

Sexual activity can begin with sensual touch, such as cuddling or body massage, and lead to more focused sexual stim­ulation with hands, lips, and tongue. Couples can decide which technique to use to stimulate to orgasm. Most couples have used techniques other than penetra­tion in the past. This is the time to dust them off and use them again. For some couples, techniques such as manual stim­ulation or oral sex can be a sweet reminder of the way they started as sexual part­ners. A vibrator can be an extra tool for stimulating blood flow. It can be used equally on both partners’ sexually sen­sitive regions of the body. Penetrative sex can be resumed once erectile treat­ment is successfully underway.

There are websites that provide in­formation on sexual health products in an effort to encourage healthy sexuality after cancer or other chronic illnesses. They usually promote vacuum devices, vasoconstriction rings to help maintain erections, vaginal moisturizers, lubri­cants, and vibrators. Couples can browse these sites as a part of planning for sen­sual and sexual bonding.

When couples work on sexual recov­ery, along with the feelings of closeness, feelings of grief about the changes in their sexual relationship can bubble up. These feelings are normal and should not be suppressed. Rather, couples can share them and support each other. Be­ing able to share such difficult feelings builds emotional intimacy.

It is important to realize that sexual recovery will take time and effort. Grad­ually, prostate cancer survivors and their partners learn how their bodies work together in these new circum­stances and can even take pride in having mastered their new sexuality. Patience, toler­ating grief, accepting frustration, maintaining hope, and embracing humor are the ingredients necessary for a successful recovery of sexual intimacy.

Daniela Wittmann is a certified sex thera­pist in the University of Michigan Health System’s departments of Urology and Social Work in Ann Arbor, MI. She has worked with couples for over 30 years.

Many couples find it helpful to work on sexual recovery with a sex therapist. Find one in your area through the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists website, aasect.org. It is always good for a couple to interview a therapist or two to make sure they are a good fit. Finding a good sex therapist is no different from finding a good doctor.

With patience, a willing partner, and openness to experiment, almost every man can have pleasurable sex. Read the article at Coping with Cancer.Position Statement on the U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services’ ‘2010 Stop Medicare Fraud’ CampaignBackground

Medicare Fraud, as explained by the U.S. government, is when doctors, healthcare providers, suppliers, and private companies who work with Medicare are not being honest; when someone intentionally falsifies information or deceives the Medicare Program. A common example of fraud is purposely billing Medicare for services that were never provided or received.In 2010, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Justice developed a public relations campaign, “Stop Medicare Fraud.” Elements of this campaign include:

The creation of an educational website http://www.stopmedicarefraud.gov The development and distribution of a broadcast public service announcement (PSA) The creation of social media assets such as a Twitter stream, Facebook community and YouTube Channel

This campaign was created to stop Medicare fraud.What is Medicare Fraud?

Some examples of possible Medicare fraud are:

A healthcare provider bills Medicare for services you never received. A supplier bills Medicare for medical devices or equipment you never received. Someone uses another person’s Medicare card to get medical care, supplies, or equipment. Someone bills Medicare for home medical equipment after it has been returned. A company offers a Medicare drug plan that hasn’t been approved by Medicare. A company uses false information to mislead you into joining a Medicare plan.

Pos-T-Vac Statement of Position

Pos-T-Vac is the world’s leader in providing vacuum therapy systems for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Pos-T-Vac has been providing vacuum therapy systems for over 25 years. As a medical device supplier in the U.S. healthcare system Pos-T-Vac follows all rules and regulations set for by the US Food and Drug Administration to allow us to manufacturer, sell and distribute our products.Several Pos-T-Vac products are covered and reimbursed by Medicare. As a medical device supplier working with Medicare to get our products reimbursed by Medicare, we act in accordance with Medicare’s rules and will always deliver our products to our customers.You can help stop Medicare fraud by reviewing your Medicare statements to make sure Medicare is not charged for items or services that you did not receive. If you do experience any of the above examples of Medicare fraud from any healthcare provider, you can make a report at any time. This link to the Medicare.gov website will provide you with directions on how to make that report. http://www.medicare.gov/fraudabuse/howtoreport.aspPos-T-Vac supports the Stop Medicare Fraud Campaign.

6 must-know facts about erectile dysfunction and other performance issues in older menJust how common is it? Landmark studies by University of Chicago researchers found that one third of men aged 50 to 64 suffer from ED. That figure jumps to approximately 44 percent for the 65 to 85 age group.Read the whole article here.

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